Folding rule



0. W. BLODGIE.

FOLDlNG RULE.

APPLICATION man MAY 22. I915.

1,33 1,951 Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

11 mvzw-ron 1 his attorney, H 13. F1344.

Fi ll. FBJZ.

unirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE, J

' CHARLES W. BLOIDGIE, or BUFFALO, NEW YOR FOLDING RULE. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', CHARLES W. BLODGIE, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Rules; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

parts.

more particularly to the construction of the joints thereof.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a slip and hold joint between contiguous members of the rule which will'be positive in action in holding the contiguous members firmly in alinement, when full open or closed. i 1

Another object is to provide a j o int which will yield more evenly to the manual turning of the contiguous members, and at the same time be more flexible, so as not to overtax the material of the interlocking parts.

A further object is to provide a joint which will require less material than one of the common type, and one wherein the material is used to better advantages with respect to its elastic qualities.

A further object is to so form the joint parts that no pins or rivets will be required to attach the same to the members of the rule.

With these and other objects my invention consists in certain construction, including interlocking elastic members out in bent alinement across the body of the joint part. Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the drawings, the construction and functioning of the parts is explained and what I claim is set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a fragment of a folding rule, showing one form of joint embodying my invention.

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rule and joint shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of one end of a recessed i Application filed May 22, 1918. Serial No. 236,029,.

Like figures of reference refer like This invention relates to folding rules and member of a folding rule adapted to receive a part of the joint device.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line Y- -Y of Fig. 3. i

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 24, v

Fig, 5 is a plan of the rule member ad-- joining the member shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line X'-X of Fig. 3. i

Fig. is a plan of the joint part fitting the recessed member shownin Fig. 3.

Fig; 8 is an 'end' elevation of the part shown" in Fig. 7. 1 i

Fig. 9 is a plan of the joint part adapted to fit with the part shown in Figs.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the joint part shown in Fig. 9. i

Fig. 11 is a plan of a modified form of a joint part to that shown in the previously mentioned figures.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the part shown in Fig. 11.

F'g. 13 is a plan of another form of joint part differing from the others above mentioned. i

Fig; 14 is an end elevation of the parts shown-in Fig. 13.

In the figures:

Referring to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, the rule members 1 and 2, are pivotally joined by the rivet 3, with the washers 4, 4:. Between the members 1 and 2, are the joint parts 5 and 6, fixed respectively to the members 1 and 2. The member 1 is provided with curved recesses 7 and 8, symmetrically placed about the rivet hole 9, as shown in Figs. 3, 4.- and 5. The member 2 has a rivet hole 10, as shown in Fig. 5. The joint part 5 shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is of sheet metal, having a rivet hole 11, about which is symmetrically positioned the curved straps 12 and 13, each having a centrally depressed portion 14. The straps 12 and 13 are sprung .beyond the plane of the plate, to provide for an elastic action when the depressions are co-fitted during the alinement of the ruled members 1 and 2. Thelongitudinal edges 15 and 16, are bent in at an acute angle to the body 17, of the joint part 5,

7 and 8.

when the part is positioned upon the memher 1 of'the rule, and are thus firmly held thereon without the use of other fasteners. By making the straps 12 and 13 curved, as shown in Fig. 7, they are made longer than ifvthey were cut straight across from the body 17, of the part 5, and are therefore,

made more flexible. I 7 p The part 5 is positioned on. the member 1 to have its depressed portion 14, 14:, occupy the recesses 7 and 8, loosely, When-the part 5 is fixed in position upon the member 1.

The joint part 6 is similar to thepartb,

in the construction of the body 17, the

straps 12 and 13, the depressed portions" 14:, 14, and is of the same size, but the edges 15* and 16 are turned from the body 17* in opposite directions and at an acute angle, when attached to the ruled member 2, so that when the, holes 11, and 11 ofthe joint parts 5 and 6, register with the holes '9 and 10 of the ruled member, the de ressed portions 14L, 14, of the part 5, will t com-- pressingly into the depressed portions 14. 1 1", of the part 6, when. the members land .2 are in line, open or shut.

The modified form of joint part shown in Figs. 11 and 12 have the strap portions'lQ and 13somewhat E-shaped, the bars 18 giving added flexibility and assisting to position the depressions 1 1, 14 in spaced relation to the hole 19.

In the form shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the straps 12 and 13 are made angular in shape to give them the extra length for the added feature of flexibility which my invention afl'ords over the common straight strap form. V

Other forms of straps which give a longer strap between the longitudinal edges of the rule, may be made without departing from the spirit and .scope of my invention, I

therefore do not wish to be confined to the details of construction herein shown and dGSCllbQCl, hence I, claim, v V 1 1. In a folding rule having two ad o ning members pivotally connected, a joint device comprising a pivotal member forholding said adjoining members together, a pair of elastic members arched transversely to the face of the rule and spaced from said pivotal member, each having a projected center, eachof said elastic members being fixed at its ends, and another pair of similarly arched elastic members, each having its ends; fixed and having depressed centers,

positioned to register and lock with the'said jrespective projections of the other pair of arched members, when said adjoining mem-- bers are in line with one another.

ments, and slip-locking portions on said ele ments, positioned to be diametrically opposite one another to lock together when said members are in line with one another open full or closed. 7

CHARLES wrronein. 

